IRRITABILITY OP BEES. 286 



in a moment ; throw it over the head, letting the ends 

 fall around the neck and shoulders, covering all but 

 the face. The hat can come on over it. As for the face, 

 whenever a bee comes around in a menacing attitude, 

 hold it down — unless he stings at the first onset, there 

 is not much risk. 



REMEDIES FOR STINGS. 



Concerning the remedies for stings, it is a hard 

 matter to tell which is the best. There is so much 

 difference in the effect in different individuals, and the 

 different parts of the body, as well as the depth the 

 sting reaches, that a great variety of remedies are re- 

 commended. 



A person is slightly stung, and applies something 

 as an antidote ; the effect of the sting is trifling,, as 

 perhaps it would have been without anything, and the 

 medicine is forthwith extolled as a sovereign remedy. 

 I have been thus deceived ; when slightly stung ap- 

 plied what I thought cured in one case, when in the next 

 the sting might have penetrated deeper, or in some 

 other place, and the remedy'would seem to have no 

 effect. For the last few years, I have not made any 

 application whatever for myself, and the .effect is no 

 worse, nor even as bad as formerly. (This, I am told, is 

 because the system is hardened, and now can resist or 

 throw off the effects.) Among the remedies recom- 

 mended, are saleratus and water, salt and water, soft- 

 soap mixed with salt, a raw onion cut in two and one- 

 half applied, mud or clay mixed pretty wet and 

 changed often, tobacco wet and rubbed thoroughly to 



